Electrical apparatus



R. V. BINGAY ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Sept. 25, 1928.

Original Filed Dec- 20, 192

Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

g 1,685,223 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT V. BINGAY," OIi PITTSBURGH; PENNSYLVANIA; ASSIGNOR TO PITTSBURGH TRANSFORMER COMPANY, A. CORPORATLEOLN OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Application filed December 20, 1924, Serial 110,757,120. Renewed March 22, 1927 This invention relates toelectrical devices such as transformers, reactors and the like which are adapted to be immersed in oil contained in a tank and more. particularly it relates to an apparatus of this character which embodies auxiliary oil expansion tanks which are connected to and adapted to receive overflow oil from the main transformer tank.

Ditliculty has been experiencedl in cold weather in maintaining the proper flow of oil between the main and expansion tanks. This due to the cooling and consequent 'Jongealing of the oil, particularly in the passages between thetanks. One of the major objects of the present invention is toprovide means formingpassages between the main and auxiliary tanks within which warm oil from the main tankwill circulate so that the oil inzsaid passages will remain'warm and so 9 be prevented from congealing.

' Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in con- I "nection with the accompanying drawing which shows a preferred embodiment of my invention, and wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing the transformer tank and expansion tank and communicating means between the tanks;

2 is a view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, but showing the auxiliary tank side elevation.

ln the drawing, A. represents the main tank adapted to contain a t 'ansformer and oil and B an expansion tank adapted to receive over- .2 flow oil from the main. tank A. The tank B. as shown. is supported from the top of the main tank by bars 10 to which it is secured by any suitable means, such as straps 11. p The iausion tank is provided with the usual breather 12, oil gauge 13 and. a pipe and pet cock 14- adapted todrainmoisture and sediment from the extreme bottom of the expansion ta nk. Leading from the interior of the tank P at a point somewhat above the bottom and the interior of the transformer tank A. The opposite arm of the T 19 communicates with a pipe 25 which extendsthrough the cover 21. T

6 to the transformer tank 'dowi'i through the through the bottom of the tank is a pipe. 16,

and communicates with the upper part of interior to the tank and terminates in an opening near the bottom of the tank.

In practice the connecting pipes act in the usual manner to permit oil to flow from the transformer tank to the expansion tank when the body of oil expands on heating and to return to the transformer tank when the body of oil contracts on cooling. The pipes 20 and and connecting'T 19 also permit a continuous movement or circulation of oil which maintains the oil at a sufliciently high temperature to prevent its congealing. This circulation is due to the relatively cooler and consequently heavier column of oil in the long pipe 25 tending to cause a downward circulation in said pipe, while the hotter relatively lighter column; of oilin the tank and short pipe 20 tend to develop an upward circulation. so that. while the transformer tank is hot there is a tendencytowards a continuous circulation of oil up into the pipe 20 and down back to the bottom of the tank. through the pipe 25. I

My invention permits the removal of the cover of the transformer tank, the expansion tank and the connecting pipe as a unit without the necessity of uncoupling any of the pipe connections. In doing this, the valve 17 is closed to prevent loss of oil from the expansion tank. Also, if desired, the expansion tank may be removed by detaching the straps 11 and'disconnecting the coupling 18.

I claim:

1. The combination of a transformer tank, an oil expansion tank and means forming two passages which communicate at one end with the interior of said expansion tank, one of said passages connecting with the upper portion of the interior of thetransformer tank and the other of said passages extending downwardly through the interior of said transformer tank and communicating with the interior of said transformer tank near the bottom thereof. j

2. The combination of a transformer tank having a cover, an oil expansion tank and communicating means between said tanks comprising a pipe passing through the bottom of the expansion tank, a pipe passing through said cover and opening into the upper portion of said transformer tank, a pipe passing through said cover and opening into, the lower portion of said transformer, and a coupling connecting said pipes. j

The combination a transformer tank having a cover, an oil expansion tank and communicating means bet-ween said tanks comprising a pipe passing into said expansion tank and terminating above the bottom thereof, a pipe passing through said cover and opening into the upper portion of said transformer tank, a pipe passing through said cover and opening into the lower portion of said transformer tank, a T coupling connecting said pipes, and means for draining sediment from the bottom of said expansion tank.

t. The combination of a transformer tank having a cover, an oil. expansion tank sup ported from said cover, and comnninicating means between said tanks comprising a valved pipe passing through the bottom of the transformer tank, a pipe passing through said cover and opening into the upper portion of said transformer tank, a pipe passing through said corer and opening into the lower portion of said transformer tank and a T coupling connecting said pipes.

5. The combination of a tank adapted to contain oil, a transformer in said tank, an expansion tank, means for forming a circulating passage for automatially creating a natural circulation of oil to and from said transformer tank, independently of said expansion tank, and means forming a passage connecting said circulating passage with said expansion tank.

6. The combination of a main tank adapted to contain oil, a transformer in said tank, an expansion tank, means for forming a passage for oil between said main tank and said expansion tank and means forming an auxiliary passage communicating with said passage between said main tank and expansion tank adapted to return oil to said main'tank to automatically maintain a circulation of oil into and out of said main tank so as to utilize the heatfrom said transformer to warm the oil in said passages and prevent the oil in said passa es from being congealed in cold weather.

7. The combination of a main tank adapted to contain oil, a transformer in said tank, an expansion tank, n'ieans for forming a circulating passage for oil between said main tank and said expansion tank and means forming an auxiliary passage bet-ween said circulating passage and the main tank adapted to return oil to said main tank and automatically maintain a circulation of oil into and out of said-main tank so as to utilize the heat from said transformer to warm the oil in said passage and prevent the oil iii-said passage from being congealed in cold weather.

8. The combination of a transformer tank, an oil expansion tank, and communicating means between said tanks comprising a pipe communicating with said expansion tank below the oil level therein, a pipe communicating with said transformer tank at a predetel-mined level, a pipe communicating with said transformer tank at a predetermined lower level, and means for interconnecting said pipes.

ROBERT V. BINCn'lY. 

